St. Vincent Health Insurance Benefits Updates

Update on New Providence Health Insurance Plan – September 28
Oregon Nurses Association staff at all Providence facilities were notified officially about a new/additional health insurance offering, the Health Savings Account (HAS). It will not replace what we have already implemented and bargained for our contracts. Health Insurance benefits are a term and condition of your employment and as such, Providence is required to negotiate any changes (like the Voluntary Separation Plan).

After reviewing the announced changes, ONA has filed a grievance on behalf of the St. Vincent and Providence Medford nurses, challenging the “Working Spousal Surcharge” for nurses who have the Health Reimbursement Account. Click here to read more about the grievance – September 18, 2012

On September 25 we held our first grievance meeting. Administration requested an additional week to research this issue and respond, and then issued a short letter in response on October 5, denying the grievance. To read the response, click here. We held our second grievance meeting on October 29, and on November 6, administration again denied our grievance (after again requesting additional time to respond, which was not approved). To read the response, click here. We held the step 3 grievance meeting on November 29 and will have the response December 7. Stay tuned for more updates as this progresses.